Stuff with Dad

Canunda National Park

Saturday was a beautiful Autumn day. Canunda is only 14 km to the south of town. If you hear a local saying "Goin' out the back" this is where they are headed. It's no go swimming, because of the undertow, you might say it is one big mofo rip. But it is as popular as flies on shit for fishing and four wheel driving.

I love coming here. I came down here and walked and walked when I found out I was pregnant with Izzy. Sitting here on this beach, listening to the thunder of the waves, looking at the horizon, knowing there is nothing until you hit the south pole, makes all your problems go away. It is so cathartic, for me anyway.

The view on the walk from the car.

The native muntrie berry groundcovers were still in fruit.
I was very glad to get my yearly fill.

Men and glad wrap

What is it with men and gladwrap? I should rephrase that and say, what is wrong with my man and gladwrap?

I am sure somewhere there are men who can manage to roll out a square of cling film for their sandwich without fucking up the whole roll. I sit in the lounge and listen to the grumbling and can only think what a useless dickhead my husband is. Maybe I will surprise him and make his sandwiches for work again, like I used to, with the little love note under the wrap, every now and then. But I have enough to do without making a big boys lunch.

Are they all inept of covering anything they put back in the fridge too? The half arsed attempt of rewrapping the fritz, or devon, or whatever you call where you live, covering that plate of food. And there goes the other thing, the plate of food, or plate, of nothing.

Who leaves and empty plate in the fridge?...... My hubby. Who leaves a half can of dogfood in the fridge with no covering?....My hubby. This grossed me out, who wants eggs with that hint of dogfood? I shake my head in astounding wonder sometimes. Like the two crusts, left in the bread bin. We have a chook bucket, and more bread in the freezer, or just right there, right next to where he's standing, there's a bin! Astounding me, again!

Are these familiar sights in your house, or is it just me?

Linking for for Totally Thursday with Jacana :)

Slippery dip with Dad

Tricycle made for two

Brett started working and driving trucks for my brothers at the end of last year. They own the scrap metal recycling business my dad, Scrappy Joe, started in the late 70s. I am so proud of my Dad, he now lives a life of luxury, walking to the main street and back everyday and going to clearing sales here and there to keep busy. He is very well known and liked around the place.

When Brett came home from work and said he had something for Izzy, my only thought was, 'What the hell has he bought home this time?!' 

Monarto Zoo

Boxing Day we made our way home after spending christmas with Bretts family north of Adelaide. On the way back we spent a couple of hours at the Monarto Zoo, about 15 minutes out of Murray Bridge. I had a sore and puffy foot still(I got spider bitten two days before christmas), so was apprehensive, but knowing they had buses to ferry us around in made me feel better. Plus Brett had built Izzy up and she was asking when we were seeing the animals as soon as we took off from his sisters house. How could we disappoint her?!

I got as many photos as I could, we didn't take the pram in and frankly it would have been a hassle having to fold it up every time we got on a bus. We went on about four different buses, or was it five, and I was usually holding Summer trying to take one handed photos with my camera, easier said than done! 

White Rhino and baby, amazing!

This was the final fence of three to get into the carnivores section, where the lions were, triple assurance they don't escape, which is comforting, they were huge! Note the sign on the fence, it's someones idea of a joke. The volunteer guide doing the talking at the front of the bus reckons it's because the lions don't like it when the spokes get stuck in their teeth. Boom tish!

Nought to eighty kilometres per hour in three seconds. Vision of up to five kilometres. Amazing creature. Not one I would like to come across in the wild, but apparently you can have a cheetah experience and get right in their enclosure with a guide if you're brave enough.

Sitting on a bus watching another bus full of eager zoo goers. The size of the zoo grounds when you look at this is astounding. It is fantastic to see the animals have so much room to roam. I am with the firm belief that is why, as opposed to a "cage" zoo, the animals grow to such huge sizes like the lions and this american bison. The photo doesn't do justice to how massive this animal is, it was HUGE! 

Who knew there were different types of zebras? They have two varieties at the zoo. This one is the Chapmans zebra. 

Monarto currently has eighteen giraffes! They all weren't on display, they are trying to keep the boys away from the girls, they are too good at breeding, there were about nine that I could see. You could get off at the bus stops and have a look around, this was at the giraffe section, there was a walking trail that ended on a raised platform so we had a great view. 

When we made it back to the start my foot was aching so I sat with Summer in the cafe and Brett took Izzy for a short walk to see the chimpanzees. Izzy was funny, showing me how the chimps jumped around and telling me how cute the baby one was. I'm sorry I missed the baby one. We had a fantastic time, so glad we went.

Show day

Not a gardeners arsehole

Nothing scares me more, than when Brett decides he is going to do some 'cutting back' in the garden. It scares me because as much as he thinks he's a gardener, he's not a gardeners arsehole. He's a man, with a motor, with attachments, and he's not afraid to use it. Much to my horror.

After a few beers, he informed me of his plans. I protested. He insisted that it was too overgrown and he couldn't walk through this part of the garden. For ten years, no one walked through that part of the garden, I protested again, it's garden, it's not meant to be walked through.

I'm not sure why doing this part of the garden is so important right now. I reminded him of the other jobs that needed doing, the fly screen on the backdoor. The chicken wire, keeping the kids out of the pond was loose. The ivy is taking over the path in the fern area, that we do walk through. Chopping out the crap weed trees that have come up here and there, from the birds crapping out the seeds. I see jobs that need doing, he sees an opportunity to use his multi attachment pruner, hedger, chainsaw, whipper snipper, and I protested referring to an extension of his dick!

When he had gone out the next morning, I went and inspected the area, because I didn't want him to see me looking at it, maybe giving him an inkling that I thought he might be right.......I think he might be right. I could see where some things could be cut back, just a bit. I could see a nice little area where a bird bath or something could sit, hidden away in a little garden nook.

We agreed that when he finished the little jobs, he could go gung ho and clear out the patch. The idea has grown on me, and he's creating another aspect to our garden, another garden room.

Sometimes I have to give up control, to trust, to let him have ideas and see them through. It's his garden too. Let's face it, since having the girls, I don't have the time to give to the garden that I used to, I should and do appreciate any help that he does give. I haven't mowed the lawns for over three years, something I would have rather done myself before, because I didn't like the slap dash way he did it. I've learned to shut my mouth and get over the missed bits or the gouges where he's had the cutter too low. I just appreciate it done. I appreciate my hubby, even though, I still think he's not a gardeners arsehole. 

Screen fixed!

wire fixed!

before

after

Jobs done!! He made a start on 'his' garden clearing, and I can now see what he envisioned. I am excited and impatient now to put something in there now, to complete the picture. We have put a few fairies in there, for Izzy, and now we just need to find a nice seat to put there. I'd like a nice iron one.

Sipping tea with Rebecca